The Rotary Club of Peachtree City brings newfound water sources to Kenya

Patti Kadkhodaian, President of the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, is proud to have finalized a grant to help provide rainwater receptacles to the village of Sokoni in Kenya.

The Rotary Club of Peachtree City, founded in 1967, is a service organization that unites individuals within a community to provide aid to various individuals and organizations, whether that be on a local or global scale. Past projects done by the Rotary Club of Peachtree City include building beds for local children with Sleep in Heavenly Peace, working with the Real Life Center and Midwest Food Bank to bring meals to residents of our community, and The Rotary Grand Prix Series of 5k races at local elementary schools over the past 20 years with over two million dollars contributed to schools.

This international partnership began in May of 2024, when Kadkhodaian met Alice Kirenge, the president-elect of the Karura Rotary Club in Kenya, during the Rotary International Convention in Singapore. Kadkhodaian had $10,000 budgeted within the Rotary Club in order to pursue a global grant opportunity at the event. It was important to her that the project they funded was not something that already existed and had a grant previously established for, the Rotary Club of Peachtree City wanted to help build from the ground up while actively fostering a new relationship.

“You have this opportunity to build a relationship through working together on a project where you have to start from the beginning,” said Kadkhodaian. 

Upon meeting Kirenge, she learned that the Sokoni village in Kenya- particularly the women- were trekking three miles to obtain water for their households. Moved by the village’s struggle, Kadkhodaian knew this was the right cause for the Peachtree City Rotary Club to support.

However, the project required $6,000 more dollars than what was allotted in their grant budget. Through fellow Rotary member Ellie White-Stevens and a Rotary Holiday Party Committee of dedicated volunteers, the Rotary Club of Peachtree City was able to secure additional resources by hosting a holiday party that featured games and VIP gift bags available for purchase at the event and in advance. To ensure community involvement and ownership, each household in Sokoni was asked to raise one hundred dollars to be considered for a rainwater receptacle. In total, 57 households participated and received their own receptacles.

This month, the rainwater receptacles were installed, and the Rotary Club of Peachtree City received heartwarming photos and videos of Sokoni villagers celebrating their newfound water sources. 

“They had the whole caravan of the village people in Sokoni and the Rotary Club of Karura march in with their Rotary flag. They were celebrating and singing,” said Kadkhodaian.

This initiative has built a lasting connection between the two Rotary Clubs and their communities- one that has brought positive change to all involved. Kadkhodaian reflected on how the experience deepened her gratitude for running water in our community, and the joy she feels in helping another community gain a newfound water source.

“Not having to walk for water has a big ripple effect,” said Kadkhodaian. “It frees up all of that time to do things that help them move their lives forward.” Looking ahead, the Rotary Club of Peachtree City is getting ready to begin a new year July 1st and there are amazing initiatives on the horizon. The organization, with over 150 members, has continuously made an impact in Peachtree City. For more information on the Rotary Club of Peachtree City, visit peachtreecityrotary.org.